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Driver in Louisville head-on collision that killed 2 sentenced to 1 year in jail

Cassie Tafoya pleads guilty to careless driving resulting in death

By Mitchell Byars For Hometown Weekly

Posted:
01/25/2013 01:51:26 PM MST

The driver of an SUV that was involved in a head-on collision in Louisville that killed a father and his daughter and seriously injured another child was sentenced to one year in jail after accepting a plea deal Friday, Jan. 25.

Cassie Tafoya, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving resulting in death, a Class 1 misdemeanor. As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors dropped another charge of careless driving resulting in death as well as a charge of careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury.

Ocatvio De La Torres-Reyes, 37, of Northglenn, and his daughter, Leslie DeLaTorre, 14, of Westminster, both were killed after Tafoya's Lexus SUV collided with the Toyota pickup driven by De La Torres-Reyes on June 27 in the 8900 block of Dillon Road.

De La Torres-Reyes' son, who was 6 at the time of the accident, was also seriously injured and remains in a wheelchair.

According to Louisville police, Tafoya told officers at the scene that she had been using or reaching for a phone when she drifted into the other lane and hit the pickup truck. Police also believe none of the three people in the pickup truck was wearing a seat belt.

Tafoya's attorney, Michael Carter, asked for a sentence of community service, saying it was her first run-in with the law and that she was remorseful for her actions and planned on speaking to high schoolers about her experience.

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"To go from where she was before the accident to today, the court needs to understand this tragedy affects everyone involved," Carter said. "She is trying to take responsibility for her actions and trying to do the right thing, but its going to be hard and she understands that."

An emotional Tafoya apologized to the family of the victims, and said she hoped to one day be forgiven.

"I just want to apologize for what has happened," she said. "I know its not enough and won't change anything, but I'm truly sorry. I wish it could have been me instead of them."

Boulder County Judge Karolyn Moore said she felt Tafoya was sincere in that sentiment, but said she also had to take into account the wishes of DeLaTorre's mother, Isabel Mendoza, who was present at the hearing. While Mendoza did not address the court, she had stated in a letter she wanted Tafoya to be sentenced to the maximum two years in jail.

"The fact that two people are dead and this 7-year-old boy remains in a wheelchair because of that careless action is concerning," Moore said. "You asked for forgiveness. Sometimes that's easy for people to do, sometimes that takes a lifetime and never is accomplished. But you're going to have to start with yourself.

"When you take away somebody's child and also seriously injure the other child it may take a long time for forgiveness if that's even reached at all."

Moore however did authorize work release, and said she did not impose the maximum sentence because Tafoya was still young and did not intend for the accident to happen.

"This was not obviously not an intentional act, and I believe she is sincere when she says everyday she wishes it was her," Moore said.

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